Believe me when I say I have travelled the world and stayed in many different hotels.
This is the worst hotel I have ever stayed in.
We left our house at 12:30pm, excited and looking forward to waving the best that Britain's summer can offer goodbye. Our flight departed at 15:55, so we did our best to get comfortable while we waited with a couple of well earned drinks.
After our 4 hour flight to Rhodes we arrive in the arrivals area somewhat tired and jaded to a scene of what I can only describe as of chaos.
3 flights arrived at the same time and dumped their 600 or so passengers into the inadequate 1970's styled arrivals area where we waited for our bags to emerge on the conveyor.
Eventually our bags appeared and I gathered them as fast as I could eagerly hoping to be greeted by our Olympic representative (the holiday company) so we could get settled on the transfer coach as we emerged from the arrivals area. Erm, no...
No representative. Various Thomson and Thomas Cook reps were all screaming to be heard over the melee of holidaymakers, but no Olympic rep.
After 15 minutes of somnewhat frantic searching we found our representative who kindly instrutcted us to board coach X10 which was located somewhere outside in the coach park. More searching ensued and we found our coach and sat down after loading our bags. Bliss.
Some 2 and a half hours later we arrive at our accomodation. Our bags unloaded, we proceeded into what we thought was the reception area. Empty. We ask the sole person drinking at the hotel bar as to the whereabouts of the receptionist.
"Just tell 'em your last name mate", the sole drinker said with a knowing smile.
After 5 minutes a chap arrived directing us over to a small desk located in a corner at one end of the bar area.
The reception area.
Another man arrived and gestured for us to follow him back across the main road we were just dropped off on towards some small chalet style buildings. We arrive at our studio and collapse inside dumping our bags and looking forward to a hard earned sleep.
Exhausted from the days travels we take in our new abode. A little different from the pictures in the glossy brochure, and too be honest, a little dissapointing.
Our room
After a hot, sticky night with air conditioning that simply serves to blow the hot air from one corner of our room to the other we crack open our cases and don our beach gear and proceed to the pool, past a smelly river of liquid eminating from a pipe which large hornets seem to feasting upon, back across the main road and to the pool area.
The walk down to the main road to the pool.
The main road you have to cross to get to the pool
On first inspection it dosen't look too bad, but my hopes are quickly dashed when I sit on one of the few available sun loungers and with a loud rip it tears under my not considerable weight. I get back up and try to find a couple of non ripped loungers. Er, no, there are none. Looks like it's the beach then today!
One of the many ripped or non usable sun loungers
So, the evening. Well we looked at the empty bar area (and I mean EMPTY) and decide to try the Corrali restraunt next door. Very nice food and pleasant service, unlike the service we got from the Palm Bay staff. The barman never cracked a smile once druring the whole two weeks we were there. Not once. Not even a good night. Michalis (the owner) constantly looked like we were just an inconvenience to him. Not a very hospitable atmosphere you might say.
Day 2 didn't start much better as well after I awoke to something crawling on my arm. And head.
Ants. Lots of ants.
We thought that it might have been a one off, but no the little blighters just kept coming, in the bed, on the floor and especially in the bathroom. We had complained to the rep the day before at our welcome meeting but nothing had been done. Oh, and a quick mention about the bathroom. I'll shutup and let you look at the pictures...
The shower switch hanging out of the wall (IN the shower cubicle)
The delightful shower cubicle which constantly overflowed
The bathroom window (can you see the slight gap around it??)
Two days after reporting the ant infestation we find a little present on our doorstep after our days exploring.
Yes, that is ant killer. So not only am I expected to share my bed with them, I am now supposed to go around killing them as well.
